Weighted Belts Help Dogs Shed Pounds

A new study found that overweight dogs walking with the TrimDog Weight Belt were more likely to lose weight than those that walked and didn’t wear the belt. The randomized clinical trial was conducted by Michele Rohrer, D.V.M., of Atlantic Animal Hospital in Wilmington, N.C., in partnership with TrimDog. The research and conclusion of this study are based on this partnership.

Other studies have shown that humans walking with a weighted vest can increase the metabolic response and result in a greater weight loss than those who do not wear such a vest when walking. Rohrer conducted a similar study in dogs with TrimDog’s belt product.

Rohrer’s study included 12 canines, aged 2 to 10 years, all classified as overweight. The dogs were randomized into two groups: canines that walk with the TrimDog Weight Belt and canines that walk without it.

The owners were instructed to walk their dogs five times per week for 30 minutes at a brisk pace, for a total of eight weeks. All participants were instructed to make no changes to their pets’ existing diets during this period.

Weigh-ins were conducted at Atlantic Animal Hospital prior to the start of the study, at week four and upon completion of the study.

The weight of the belt used was determined by size of the dog. Sizing of each dog is specific to the circumference of the body through the torso.

The breakdown of sizes:

X-Small: dogs measuring 7 to 10 inches. Total belt weight = 7 ounces (3-ounce weights on each side and the belt itself weighing one ounce).

After eight weeks, dogs who walked with the TrimDog Weight Belt lost an average of 4 percent of bodyweight, according to the study. Dogs that walked without the belt lost an average of 1 percent of bodyweight.

A follow-up study involving 24 canines will incorporate dogs walking with the belt in conjunction with a diet plan, according to Ike Kinlaw, developer and founder of TrimDog. The study is slated to begin this month.

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